Lucky for the Missouri soccer team, history didnít repeat itself last night.

The Tigers were clinging to a 1-0 lead late in the second half of last nightís NCAA Tournament opener against Eastern Illinois, but MU Coach Bryan Blitz couldnít relax just yet because the Panthers had Beth Liesen on their side.

In the teamsí last meeting, almost two months ago, the Tigers held a 1-0 lead before Liesen scored two goals in the final five minutes. Missouri eventually won that game 3-2 in overtime, but Liesen left her mark.

"Sheís certainly one of the top forwards in the country," Blitz said.

Liesen couldnít help but remember what happened the last time she visited Columbia.

"Some of those thoughts were coming back," Liesen said. "We knew we just had to keep playing hard."

But Liesen couldnít recapture the magic. Thanks in large part to a stifling MU defense led by defenders Ashley Gibbs and Erica Pusch, the Tigers clamped down on the Ohio Valley Conference player of the year as the Panthers looked to her virtually every time they were within striking distance of the MU goal.

Eastern Illinois Coach Steve Ballard said Liesen did manage to get past a couple of Missouri defenders, but there was always one more waiting for her.

"It was just one of those things where we had three or four chances from like 5 or 6 yards and we couldnít knock it in a corner," Ballard said.

Obviously, Blitz was pleased with his teamís defensive play, but one player in particular, stuck out for him.

"That all started with our senior goalkeeper. She was very impressive," said Blitz of Megan Duncan, who had three saves and was just the second goalkeeper this season to shut out the Panthers. "But it was also team defending. What a great job on a great forward."

Part of the credit for the success, Pusch said, has to go to Missouriís schedule. After playing the likes of Florida, California and a handful of great Big 12 teams, Missouri had seen some of the best forwards in the country.

"Sheís certainly up there with the top forwards," Blitz said. "But our kids, weíve seen them all."